Illuminated article of jewelry



July 9, 1968 L. N. HENRICH ILLUMINATED ARTICLE OF JEWELRY Filed Nov. 22,1966 6 M 4 M 6 4 2 0 3 3 3 4. I M0 4- .H. 2 I 1 a raw w 8w 4 2:: F a 2-l /H| w m. a a a M m 0 F a m 7 v? k 5 M flaw INVENTOR, LEONARD N.HENRICH United States Patent 3,392,275 ILLUMINATED ARTICLE OF JEWELRYLeonard N. Henrich, Norton, Mass., assignor to Coro, Iuc., Providence,R.I., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 596,195 8Claims. (Cl. 240-6.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ornamental article having a hollow body towhich a rear plate is secured, a battery being mounted on the plate andbeing electrically connectable to a lamp that is secured to the plateand that is located inwardly of the body. The battery is selectivelyoperated to establish electrical communication with the lamp forilluminating the interior of the body. The body has means formed in thewalls thereof through which the light therein is visible exteriorly forcreating an interesting ornamental effect.

The present invention relates to an illuminated article of jewelry and,more particularly, relates to an article of jewelry having a hollowbody, in at least one wall of which light is externally visible, abattery and lamp being secured in said body and being electricallyinterconnected by a switch member for illuminating the interior of thebody.

The present invention is directed to an article of jewelry that isadapted to be worn on the clothing of a user. For this purpose, thearticle of jewelry is defined by an ornamental body portion that isgenerally hollow in configuration. Secured to the body portion is aplate in which a chamber is formed for receiving a miniature battery, alamp being further secured to the plate and being adapted to beelectrically interconnected to the battery. The lamp is disposed wtihinthe body portion and is adapted to illuminate the interior thereof, thebody portion being constructed such that illumination of the interiorthereof is externally visible. The battery is normally disposed out ofengagement with a terminal for electrically interconnecting the lamp tothe battery, a resilient member maintaining the battery in thenonconducting position. A switch member mounted on the plate is movableinto positive engagement with the battery for depressing the batteryinto electrical connection with the terminal for completing a circuit tothe lamp and thereby illuminating the interior of the body portion.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anarticle of jewelry that includes a body portion, the interior of whichmay be illuminated to present an interesting ornamental effect.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated article ofjewelry having a pivotal switch member secured thereon that isselectively moved for energizing a lamp within the body for illuminatingthe interior thereof.

Still another object is to provide an article of jewelry in which a lampis located, a battery being selectively moved into electricalinterconnection with the lamp for illuminating the interior of thearticle of jewelry.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered inconnection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best made presently contemplatedfor carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the illuminated article of jewelryembodied in the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the article of jewelry illustratedin FIG. 1;

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FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 33 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the battery and lamp in theelectrically interconnected position.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, theilluminated article of jewelry embodied in the present invention isgenerally indicated at 10 and includes a body portion generallyindicated at 12, to the rear of which a plate member generally indicatedat 14 is secured. As shown, the body portion 12 has a semipyramidalconstruction defined by a circular wall 16 and simulates aChristmas-tree ornament. For this purpose, the body portion 12 hasformed in the outer circular wall 16 thereof a plurality of openings inwhich simulated gems indicated at 18 are secured. It is understood thatthe simulated gems 18 are normally formed of a glass material and willadmit light therethrough, thereby providing an ornamental effect aslight from the illuminated interior of the body portion reflectstherethrough. It is further seen that the gems 18 may be formed invarious colors so as to enhance the ornamental effect produced. The bodyportion further includes a lower wall 20, to which a stem 22 is joinedhaving a simulated box element 24 connected thereto. Thus, as seen inFIGS. 1 and 2, the article of jewelry 10 simulates a Christmas-treeornament, wherein the gems 18 are intended to produce the effect of alighted Christmas tree. Although a Christmastree ornament is illustratedand described herein, it will be understood that the concept of theinvention may be embodied in other forms of jewelry articles asrequired.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the body portion 12 is shown beingformed in a hollow configuration defining an interior chamber that isclosed by the rear plate 14, the plate 14 having a generally triangularconfiguration that conforms to the outline of the body portion 12.Screws 26 extend through appropriate openings located in the plate 14and are received in threaded openings formed in the body portion 12 forsecuring the plate 14 thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, the inner surface ofthe plate 14 is formed with an inwardly extending annular wall 28 and aninner peripheral edge 32 that define an interior chamber 30 which whenthe plate 14 is mounted on the body portion 12, extends within theinterior of the body portion 14, as indicated in FIG. 3.

Located within the chamber 30 and in engagement with the innerperipheral edge 32 is a nonconducting disc 34. Fixed centrally of thedisc is a contact 36 to which a lead 38 is connected, the lead 38 beingjoined to a filament 49 of an incandescent lamp 42. A lead 44 is alsojoined to the filament 40 of the lamp 42 and is fixed to the peripheraledge 32 of the annular wall 28 by a solder connection indicated at 46.The plate 14, including the annular Wall 28 and the peripheral edge 32are all formed of a metallic conducting material, the exposed portion ofthe peripheral edge 32 being free of any coating material to insure aproper electrical connection at 46.

Located within the chamber 30 is a miniature battery 48 that isgenerally cylindrical in configuration and is of that type that isnormally employed in articles such as hearing aids. The inner endmostedge 50 of the battery 48 defines a terminal therefor and is spaced fromthe contact 36 by a resilient pad 52. The outer end of the battery 48defines the other terminal therefor and, as will be described, isadapted to complete a circuit tothe lead 44 so that when the terminal 50engages the contact 36, a circuit will be completed through the battery48 and the filament 40 of the lamp 42 for illuminating the lamp.

The chamber 30 for receiving the battery 48 is of such a dimension thatthe sides of the battery will normally contact the annular wall 28 if aslight sidewise movement is applied to the battery on the depressingthereof. Thus, if the terminal 50 is brought into engagement with thecontact 36 and the battery engages the side wall 28, a circuit will becompleted through the battery to the leads 38 and 44 of the lamp 42. Afurther circuit is defined through the plate 14 by way of the annularwall 28 and a switch member 54 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Theswitch member 54 has a generally plate-like configuration and is mountedfor slidable pivotal movement on the plate 14 by means of a rivetconnection 56. The switch member 54 has an opening 58 formed thereinaround which an annular recess 60 is formed, the annular recess 60accommodating the battery 48 therein without pressure being appliedthereto by the switch member when the switch member 54 is located inoverlying relation with respect to the battery (see FIG. 3).

Since the switch member 54 engages the outer end or one terminal of thebattery 48, a complete circuit to the lamp 42 will be obtained when thebattery 48 is forced inwardly in the chamber 30 into engagement with thecontact 36. In order to energize the lamp 42, the switch member 54 ispivoted about the connection 56, wherein the axis of the opening 58 andrecess 60 is moved relative to the axis of the battery 43. The outerperipheral edge of the switch member 54 is thus dragged into engagementwith the rear surface of the battery 48 and forces the battery 48inwardly against the action of the resilient pad 52 to place theterminal 50 into engagement with the contact 36. The circuit is thencompleted to the lamp 42 through the lead 38, lamp filament 40, lead 44,the annular wall 28, rivet connection 56, and switch member 54. Aspreviously described, since the diameter of the chamber 30 is onlyslightly greater than that of the battery 48, inner movement of thebattery 48 will normally effect a sidewise movement of the battery andwill force the side walls of the battery into engagement with theannular wall 28. This will also complete the circuit to the lamp 40 byway of the leads 38 and 44 and the engagement of the contact 36 with theterminal 50 of the battery.

In use of the article of jewelry 10, a pin 62 is pivotally connected tothe rear wall of the plate 14 at a pivotal connection 64, the pin beingadapted to be engaged in a guard 66 in the well-known manner. Thus, theornament may be secured to the clothing of the user in any position asdesired. With the article 10 mounted on the clothing of the user, thelamp 42 may be energized at will by shifting the switch member 54relative to the plate 14 in either direction so as to cause theperipheral edge of the switch member 54 to urge the battery 48 inwardlyagainst the action of the pad 52 and into engagement with the contact 36(FIG. 4). Since the switch member 54 makes positive contact with thebattery 48, it may be left in engagement therewith so as to continuouslyenergize the lamp 42. With the lamp 42 energized, the interior of thebody portion 12 is illuminated, this illumination being visible throughthe varied colored simulated gems 18. A decorative and ornamental effectis thus produced by the light reflecting through the simulated gems 18;and in the form of the invention as illustrated herein, the articleappears to have the appearance of a lighted Christmas tree. The lamp 42is deenergized by pivotally moving the switch member 54 to the overlyingposition with respect to the battery 48 wherein the outer end of thebattery 48 is then received within the recess 60 and the pressurethereon is removed so that the pad 52 urges the battery 48 outwardly todisengage the terminal 50 from the terminal 36 (FIG. 3).

It is seen that an unusually interesting and ornamental article isdefined by the present invention and that the interior of the bodyportion 12 may be illuminated as desired. It the user so requires, aflickering action may be obtained by intermittently pressing the battery48 that is accessible through the opening 58 in the switch member A 54.Thus, upon depressing of the battery 48, the side walls thereof willengage the annular wall 28 and the lamp 42 will be energized. The usermay then intermittently energize the lamp 42 by alternately pressing thebattery 48 and relieving the pressure therefrom with his finger.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structureembodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the artthat various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying in ventiveconcept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms hereinshown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ornamental article, a hollow body, a rear plate secured to saidbody and having a battery removably mounted thereon, a lamp secured tosaid plate and being located inwardly of said body, a switch membermounted on said plate and being movable to electrically interconnectsaid lamp to said battery for illuminating the interior of said body,means in said body through which the light therein is visible exteriorlythereof, thereby creating an interesting ornamental effect, said platehaving a chamber formed therein in which said battery is received, thewalls of said chamber extending inwardly of said body when said plate ismounted thereon, said switch member being pivotally mounted on saidplate and being movable into engagement with said battery for cau ingsaid battery to engage a contact that is disposed within said chamberfor completing the circuit between said battery and lamp, said plate andthe walls that define said chamber being formed of a conductingmaterial, said lamp having electrical leads interconnected thereto, oneof said electrical leads of said lamp being connected to a terminal thatis normally insulated from said battery, and resilient means engagingsaid battery for normally retaining said battery out of engagement withsaid terminal and being responsive to exterior pressure exerted on saidbattery by said switch member to permit said battery to make contactwith said terminal for completing the circuit from said battery to saidlamp.

2. In an ornamental article as set forth in claim 1, said pivotallymounted switch member being plate-like in construction and having anannular recess formed therein, that is adapted to overlie said batteryso that said switch member does not apply pressure to said battery whendisposed directly thereover, said switch member being pivotally movablefrom the overlying position to locate a peripheral edge thereof inengagement with said battery for forcing said battery into engagementwith said terminal.

3. In an ornamental article, a hollow body, a rear plate secured to saidbody and having a battery removably mounted thereon, a lamp secured tosaid plate and being located inwardly of said body, a switch membermounted on said plate and being movable to electrically interconnectsaid lamp to said battery for illuminating the interior of said body,means in said body through which the light therein is visible exteriorlythereof, thereby creating an interesting ornamental effect, said platebeing formed of a conducting material and being electricallyinterconnected to a lead of said lamp, and a contact interconnected toanother lead of said lamp and being electrically engageable by saidbattery to complete the circuit between said lamp and battery when saidswitch' member is movable to an actuating position, said switch memberbeing pivotally mounted on said plate and being movable for engagingsaid battery for urging said battery into engagement with a terminalthat electrically interconnects said batiery to said lamp for completinga circuit therebetween, said plate having a chamber formed therein forreceiving said battery, said contact being fixed in said chamber, andresi'icnt means located in said chamber and normally spacing saidbattery from said contact, said switch member being movable intopositive engagement with said battery to urge said battery intoengagement with said contact for completing the circuit between saidbattery and lamp.

4. In an ornamental article as set forth in claim 3, said switch memberbeing plate-like in configuration and having an annular recess formedtherein, said switch members normally located over said battery so thatthe battery is received in said recess without the switch memberexerting pressure on the battery, said switch member being pivotallymovable so that a peripheral edge thereof positively engages saidbattery for urging said battery into engagement with said contact andagainst the action of said resilient member.

5. In an ornamental article, a hollow body, a rear plate secured to saidbody and having a chamber formed therein in which a battery is received,said plate and the walls that define said chamber being formed of aconducting material, a lamp secured to said plate and being locatedinwardly of said body, one of said electrical leads of said lamp beingconnected to a terminal that is normally insulated from said battery,resilient means engaging said battery for normally retaining saidbattery out of engagement with said terminal and being responsive toexterior pressure exerted on said battery to permit said battery to makecontact with said terminal for completing the circuit from said batteryto said lamp for illuminating the interior of said body, and means insaid body through which the light therein is visible exteriorly thereof,thereby creating an interesting ornamental effect.

6. In an ornamental article as set forth in claim 5, a switch membermounted on said plate and being movable relative thereto into positiveengagement with said battery to electrically interconnect said lamp tosaid battery.

7. In an ornamental article as set forth in claim 6, the walls of saidchamber extending inwardly of said body when said plate is mountedthereon, wherein the exposed surface of said battery as located in saidchamber is substantially conterminous with the outer surface of saidplate.

8. In an ornamental article as set forth in claim 7, said switch memberbeing pivotally secured to said plate and being generally parallel withrespect thereto, wherein pivotal movement of said switch member moves itinto and out of sliding engaging relation with the exposed surface ofsaid battery.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,125,906 8/1938 Frei 240- 102,171,116 8/1939 Muldoon 240- 2,695,355 11/1954 Giusto 24010 XR3,244,871 4/1966 Feldman 240-6.4 XR

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

JOHN M. HORAN, Examiner.

D. L. JACOBSON, I. F. PETERS, Assistant Examiners.

